Getting your Building down to Net Zero

As Christians, we are called to be stewards of God's creation. There are many ways to do this, from protecting biodiversity to making lifestyle changes. You can find more about on our Action for Hope pages.

One way we care for creation is through our work to reduce carbon emissions and reach Net Zero. But what does Net Zero mean? It means the amount of greenhouse as emissions added to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed. This is reached by significantly reducing the emissions from our buildings & travel and removing any residual emissions, through purchasing renewable energy and offsetting.

In response to the climate change emergency, the Methodist Church set the aspirational target to reach Net Zero by 2030. We are aware that this can be a daunting task and so a set of practical steps and recommendations have been created with the aim of helping churches reduce their energy use and associated carbon emissions.

The guidance is divided up into four steps, which a church can work through at their own pace. Steps 3 and 4 may not be feasible in their entirety for every church, but there may be ideas you can use. As more and more churches work on reducing their energy use and emissions, it will cumulatively make a difference.  Paired up with the four steps is the Net Zero Checklist for Churches, designed to help your church identify what you're already doing and what actions to prioritise next. There is also a Net Zero Checklist for Manses.

If you are planning a property project, you may wish to refer to the Property Development Pathways guidance.

As well as the four steps on getting your building down to net zero, you can find information on Fundraising for Net Zero Projects. As more guidance is developed, it will be added to this page, so check back regularly.

Case Study: Baildon Methodist Church
A managing trustee from Baildon Methodist Church in Bradford tells the story of how their church got down to net carbon zero.